POSTSCARDS FROM EUROPE- TENERIFE

Tenerife Ladies Open, Golf Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain
September 21st – 28th, 2009

After hours in the air, the first sight of landfall brings a sigh of relief. The passage to the island of Tenerife is a bumpy one even on the best of days. Its perch off the west coast of Africa brings ocean winds to its rocky shores. And though I’m no meteorologist, my guess is that the breeze also brings Tenerife’s main attraction; a warm, temperate climate 365 days a year. It is claimed that the island remains a constant 24 deg. Celsius/75 deg. Fahrenheit year round. I’ve been to the island in April, June, and September and can verify that this is generally the case. The humidity seemed higher this time around but going for a dip in the pool was an easy remedy to the heat.

THE VIEW FROM OUR CONDO

Natural water is more difficult to come by. The island sees little rainfall and has no rainy season as one might expect. By the coastline the terrain is dry and arid; cacti are the predominant foliage. But as you look inward, up the deep black volcanic mountain sides, mist and fog shroud the desert. A clear view up to the top is rare. The occasional hang-gliders dip in and out of view and you can just make out the vivid colors of their shoots.

The island is busily trying to make a name for itself as a major tourist destination for European travelers. The coastlines are filled with hotel high-rises and resorts, shades of red stucco being the predominant color. It is hard to imagine there is enough traffic to fill the already enormous capacity but new construction sites were in progress none the less. In part, our tournament is a way to showcase the island for writers and golf travel organizers. One of the principle sponsors of the tournament is the Tenerife Tourism Board.

Organizers spared no expense in keeping players, fed, watered, and entertained. A trip to Siam Park, “the most exciting water park in Europe,” had most of us packing up the clubs for the afternoon and reaching for our swimsuits instead. A water park may seem like a childish excursion; these rides are anything but. The Dragon and the Volcano had me screaming like the frightened little girl that I was. It was no surprise that I wasn’t going to take on the near vertical Tower of Power. I’d rather leave that to daredevil Rick.

THE TOWER OF POWER

The water park and the golf course, Golf Costa Adeje, had more than a few similarities. My thighs burned with fatigue after assenting up to the next tee box, then green, just as they did climbing to the top of water slide platform. Gravity played a big part at both locales. At the water park, Newton’s phenomenon is obvious. At Costa Adeje, the growth of the bermuda greens were also attracted by the pull of gravity. All putts broke towards the water which was never far from one’s eye. And finally, whether rushing down the darken tubes at top-speed or ripping a 4wd into the wind to hit one of the many reachable par-5s, my childish enthusiasm got the better of me. It was simply good to be there.

As I may have alluded to in my previous entries, this season was to be my last. As much as I love the game and the opportunities it has given me, it is also fair to say that it is difficult to bear its many challenges. At some point the scale tips over. Even though its been a disappointing year on the whole, leaving Tenerife with my season’s best finish, T-20th, and birding my last hole on the LET, I felt proud to walk away. Thank you for your comments, praises, well–wishes, and endless support. Its been my pleasure to have you along for the ride. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have.